The European Union has set a clear target: by 2035, selling internal combustion vehicles in its borders will be phased out. This projection, viewed through a short-term lens, places the next decade as a critical period for electric vehicles to strengthen their position. In Spain, twelve years may seem brief when measured against the work needed to build a solid charging and sales structure, especially given the current share of BEVs in overall car sales.
Recent quarterly figures reported for the first nine months of the year show how Spain is progressing. Anfac, the national association of vehicle manufacturers, alongside Faconauto, reported BEV registrations totaling 21,106 in 2022. This represented a 40.4% rise from the previous year, when 15,033 pure electric cars were registered. Yet, when framed against total vehicle sales, BEVs still accounted for a modest 1.3% market share of about 600,281 cars sold that year.
Put simply, one electric car is bought for every twelve traditional petrol vehicles and five diesels. The shift toward sustainability remains gradual. Hybrids, or HEVs, continue to dominate early-year registrations, close to one in three, totaling 171,652 units in the first quarter alone.
Slow evolution compared to Europe
Raúl Morales, Faconauto’s director of communications, describes the move to pure electricity as too slow. He notes growth is happening but there are too few models to spark a fast uptake. A broader look across Europe supports this view. Data released by ACEA, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, show that BEV registrations in the EU rose by 26% in the first three quarters of the year, reaching a total well over 700,000. Within this mix, countries like France see very low petrol and diesel demand relative to BEVs, while the Netherlands shows BEVs nearly matching gasoline sales and far outpacing diesel. Norway stands out with BEV volumes far exceeding petrol and diesel purchases.
Big problems
The gap between ambition and reality in Spain largely stems from persistent obstacles. One major hurdle is charging infrastructure, often described as insufficient. Anfac notes that by early October there were about 16,565 charging points, a figure that falls short of the government’s prior target of 45,000 by the end of 2018. Most of these points are not rapid chargers, which slows consumer confidence and convenience for potential EV buyers.
Another hurdle is cost. The price gap for many buyers remains a barrier. For instance, the widely favored Tesla Model 3 lists at a substantial sum, while a popular hybrid option like the Hyundai Tucson comes in at roughly half that price. Until prices move closer to a practical premium level for the average buyer and charging becomes more accessible, the road to broader EV adoption in Spain will stay challenging.
Industry observers stress that policy work must keep pace with technology. A faster, more reliable charging network, combined with better incentives and clearer timelines, could accelerate the shift away from internal combustion engines. In the meantime, hybrid vehicles will likely fill a transitional role as Spain, and Europe at large, gradually electrify their fleets.